JOE Root made a short-lived return to the crease for Yorkshire's Second XI on Wednesday after seven weeks out with a broken thumb.

The 23-year-old managed just eight against Lancashire's second string, before he was caught behind off former Zimbabwe seamer Kyle Jarvis.

Root broke his thumb while making a century for England in a one-day international against West Indies on March 5, which subsequently ruled him out of the World Twenty20.

The right-hander had hoped to step up his return in the match at Northop Hall in north Wales, but was denied significant time in the middle as Yorkshire crashed to 99 for nine.

Jarvis did the majority of the damage as he returned six for 42. Lancashire had earlier made 427 for seven declared in their first innings.

Root lost his Test place at the end of the 5-0 Ashes winter whitewash, but after his good form in the Caribbean, will have pencilled in a return for England in the season-opening ODI against Scotland on May 9.

He could make a first-class return for Yorkshire in their trip to play Middlesex at Lords starting on Sunday.